When I heard about the Iwakuni Volunteer Tour Guide Association, my first thought was of how to get the word out. Something this wonderful needs to be shared. They have been around for years, but I just found out about them a few months ago. Where have I been?!
Before I continue, let me share that I have lived here for most of my life and have been going to Kintai since I was four years old. It is one of my most favorite places in the world and whenever I need to just get away from it all, it is where I go. Looking at the bridge and listening to the sounds of the river rushing underneath it have always been so soothing to me. The point of sharing this little tidbit about myself? I have been to Kintai thousands of times, but I learned so much from the tour guides. Whether you are new here or you have lived here for a couple of years, I think you’ll find the tours very educational and interesting.
The tour guides are a truly amazing group of men and women who want to share their knowledge and help each person who visits Kintai gets the most out of their visit. The best part is that some of them offer the tours in English!
I want to share my experience and give you an idea of what one of the tours is like. However, I don’t want to give too much info because I want you to experience it for yourself.
We started the tour at the entrance of the bridge on the opposite end of the castle side. All entrance fees are at your expense so make sure you have Japanese yen on you to cover your fees.
As we walked across the bridge, the guides shared some really great information about the bridge.
Your tour can be tailored to your interests and your must see spots. Maybe you’re really into history, or maybe you just want to walk around and hear the highlights. They can also create a tour based on the amount of time you have available.
We took the ropeway up to the castle and the views were spectacular!
I had to get a picture of some of the volunteer tour guides. They were all so nice and so knowledgable! 
Afterwards, we stopped by the White Snake Museum. Please make sure you add this place to your list. It’s not very big, but it’s a nice interactive museum.
As we headed back to our starting point we stopped at a couple more spots. I did a three hour tour, and the time really flew by! If you really want to see everything there is to see at Kintai, three hours is not enough.
If you are interested in booking a tour with one of the Iwakuni volunteer tour guides, click on this link and fill out the request form. This would also be a great tour to book for friends and family who visit you. You can also get a tour at the last minute if a guide is available. Just look for people wearing the green vests around the Kintai Bridge area.
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